Tough Choices, Part II

"Daddy? What are we doing today?"

This is my life. Med and Midi curled up next to me, wanting to know what's up. I'm about to throw out some possibilities when Thomas walks in, phone in hand. "I gotta hit homebase for a minute—"

"RangeMan?" Midi looks excited.

"Yup. You wanna see the Miami office?"

"Yeah!" The boys hop out of bed and run to the bathroom, fighting over who gets the shower first. I roll my eyes.

"What's really up?"

"The guys wanna put a game together. Trying to avoid the mall. So we're thinking grilling, playing ball, swimming." He grins. "Maybe you should let Ms. Sexy know where to find you if she wants to see you try to dominate the half court." Thomas's phone beeps and he checks the message then barks a laugh. "Not even, son. I'm bringing serious ammo," he mutters.

"I'm the serious ammo?"

He smirks. "Those fools don't even know. The twin towers? Let's show 'em how to ball." He slides of the bed and stretches. "And you can get to know your new men." The bathroom door closes and I hear the shower start as I sit up.

My new men. I'm really doing this. I'm really moving to Miami.

Doobie was my partner for years and I'm really gonna miss him. He had my back, babysat my boys, and kept me sane. Javi's face also floats in front of mine and I'm depressed for a moment. He hired me, let me keep my pride, never fronted on me, and built me up when I became his partner. I owe them both more than they'll ever know.

Jorge, Drake, Levi … my NYC homies are gonna be hard to leave behind.

"Yo, you OK?" I look up; Thomas is fresh out the shower and drying himself off.

"Thinking about my NYC men."

He nods. "Thought so. Diego has that same look on his face. Like he can't wait to go and he doesn't wanna go at the same time."

"Yeah. How are you gonna take losing your partner?"

He shrugs and pulls on a pair of boxers. "Yo, on one hand, it hurts. Diggy and I were boys for years. After I got out the moving business, Diggy helped me learn how to get along with people. My social skills were shit, son, and I hadn't had a woman in years." I snicker. Thomas blushes, first one all trip. "Yeah, I worked at nights mostly and my job was not to be kind and considerate. My job was to move whatever came my way. Diggy took my ass to the club and taught me all that crap you always seemed to do naturally."

"Thanks."

He shrugs. "Yeah. I took losing Mando kinda hard too. Mando? Man, that man folded me into his family and when he learned who Raptor was, he didn't turn his back to me." He raises a brow. "My only concern last August was how Mando was gonna take it."

"Damn. I didn't realize you'd lost both your partners," I reply softly.

He nods. "Anyway, losing Diggy is gonna hurt, no lie, but on the other hand I gain you. I get you and mis sobrinos here in Miami, which is what I've wanted since forever. So, yeah, with the bitter comes the sweet."

"And Mando is coming back at some point."

He smiles. "And Mando's coming back. So yeah, with everything good comes some bad. Now, you gonna ask Ms. Sexy to come watch you ball?"

I flip him a finger and grab my phone.

Busy today?

We're making plans. Why?

RangeMen getting together to play ball. Wanna see me ball?

Love to.

I'll send you place and time.

I hear muted yelling and squealing from the apartment Ms. Sexy's staying in and grin.

Gotta get fresh and bring my 'A' game.

—oOo—

I missed Ms. Sexy's intro dunking on Braulio.

"Yo! Who the fuck you think you are, comin' here like you own it?" Braulio screams. He's laughing. It's me, Mario, Deuce, Thomas, and Jackson versus Braulio, Ren, Etienne, Juan, and Paul V and I'm running the court.

"If you fat fucks had some game, you'd be able to handle yo boy," I reply, faking the layup and passing to Thomas. He slides it in smooth and I get ready to shift to defense. "Yo, they don't play ball in Haiti?" I get flipped a finger from Braulio, Etienne, and Paul.

We're at a public park halfway between RangeMan and the beach and we've been at it for thirty minutes. We're all sweaty and gulping Gatorade, one team in black shorts, the other in silver shorts. No shirts and everyone's wearing high-top sneakers to hide the pistols. The RangeMan issue is strapped on extra tight and the men not playing are watching the area. The Miami boys invited their ladies too, so we're getting lots of attention.

Takes me a minute to notice a lot of ladies taking seats on the sidelines, but it's starting to look like an AND1 street ball shoot. The boys are cheering for me and Thomas and telling all the ladies how I'm the best out there. I hear Med every so often. My son is tryna get me the hookup. Dero arrives and takes a seat on the ground with Med and Midi to cheer us on.

Ren's got the ball and he's talkin' shit when I hear Midi yell, "You're Ms. Sexy?" He yells it so loud it cuts across all the other noise on this court and hit my ears hard. Ren slides right by me and makes the basket when I turn to look.

"Yo, mind on the game!" Mario screams. Thomas calls time and we huddle.

"What are we huddling for?" Jackson asks. I spot her. Midi went right to her. Med too. I know they're asking her lots of questions and she's smiling at them, but she looks nervous.

Well, if she runs from 'em, she ain't the one.

"Yo, Mack's been at this chick in the grass over there. She's from NYC. No, don't everyone look! Damn!" Thomas says. "Give him a minute to spot her."

These fuckers grin at me so I know Imma have to lock the head game down. "I saw her. The boys are with her."

Thomas groans. "She'll know everything up to and including your shoe size before this game is over."

"Well, I won't have to advertise so hard."

He laughs and we break.

I figure that if Ms. Sexy's watching, I better hustle. My game goes into lockdown mode. I'm shutting everyone down. That's when Miami gets dirty. We don't call fouls. Shake that shit off. So I'm switchin' it up, three pointers, layups, everything. Me and Thomas played together before so he knows my moves. They hustle to shut us down, and that leaves the rest of the team open to score. We moving up and down this court, nothing but hot sweaty men hustlin' for a ball. We attractin' a crowd to watch and some people start filming us. Thomas calls a time out so everyone can check email from the office and I take a moment to do something stupid, but hey, it might work.

I pour water on top of my head then on my chest and shoulders before downing the rest of the liter. I take a towel and wipe myself down slow, especially across my chest and abs, then peek.

Her mouth is hanging.

I hide my face under the towel and grin. Aigh! So your boy still got it!

"You did not just do that," the voice behind me says. I turn. Dero is shaking his head at me. "You did not just pull the slo-mo 'I'm so hot and sexy' move. I know that's not what I saw."

"I don't know what you saw."

He laughs. "Trust, son, she's interested. Her girls are giving her grief about you, so you don't have to pull high school moves. Go holla. Rescue her from the boys and her friends. And watch Paul V. Looks like he's been set to guard you."

"Word." I put the blank face in place, walk out off the court and jog over.

The boys run at me immediately. "Daddy, you were the best! The ladies said you were fucking hot out there," Midi says.

I hear some groans. "Really?"

"Yeah. Daddy, can I go shoot?"

Yes, son! Take your big mouth with you before you fuck Daddy's game up again. "Ask Mr. Ren for the ball."

"OK!"

They run and I smile. "There are no secrets around them." All the ladies laugh, but I keep winding my way through the group. Peeps stop me, tryna compliment my game and I nod, anxious to get to Ms. Sexy before this time out is over. I finally get close enough to see her good. Little jean miniskirt to show off the sexy legs and a see-through top over a bikini. Yes, you're beautiful and I'm in awe of it all.

She smiles. "You're good. Really good."

"Thanks. Missing Levi?"

She blushes. "I think hot and sweaty might trump the pretty club hopper, but we are planning on club hopping." She bites her lip and glances around me. "If you think your coworkers might be interested."

I raise a brow. "Those guys live in the clubs."

"Sounds like a party, then."

I squat down next to her. "Stickin' around for the barbeque?"

"You have enough for everyone?"

I point at the smoker the guys have going. "We planned big things. All of you ladies are welcome." I smile at everyone and they smile and wink back at me.

"Generous," one says, standing. She puts her hips to work walking over to me and bats her lashes. "I'm Shalise."

"Mack. Nice to meet you." I glance back at Ms. Sexy, who's looking tense. OK, so this is not a friend. "How do you know Andrea?"

This chick frowns. "I just met her today."

"Oh. Thought you mighta been one of her old friends." I smile like I'm sorry, then crook my finger at Ms. Sexy. She stands and follows me out of the crowd, her friends offering suggestions on our way out.

She's blushing. "What's up?"

I slip her the tongue again. I'm tryna keep some space between us since I'm sweaty, but she ends up right up against me. "Enjoying the game?"

"Yes." Her eyes slide down. "You really do have an eight-pack." She smiles. "An eight pack, you dominate the half-court, and your boys are smart and funny and desperate to get you a date." I feel my face heat up but she sits in the grass behind me. "Well, Ahmed is. Hamid doesn't seem to like me."

I sigh mentally and sit in the grass. "He's loyal to his Mommy. He wants Mommy and Daddy to get back together."

"Oh."

I slide my hand against her cheek. "Mommy and Daddy are divorced. That's over," I whisper.

"Does she know?"

"Yup. Everyone knows."

"You plan to advertise?"

"You're close enough to see my hand."

She rests her forehead against my arm. "You know I endured an hour of questions about your pee-pee, right?"

"Just one hour?"

"Conceited." She laughs and leaves, returning with her purse, and starts applying sunblock to my back.

"Thanks." Keep touching me. I love it. "What conversation topic would Caro say this falls under?"

"Kids say the darndest things." She presses her breasts into my back and whispers, "They don't scare me. They look too much like you not to be adorable."

"I'm adorable?" Handsome, sexy, panty-dropper … I'd prefer those adjectives. Adorable is for cats and babies.

"You are with them." She smiles. "You're Daddy, not just 'our Dad'. It's … beautiful. They truly love you."

"I love them." I kiss her gently. "We come as a group."

—oOo—

I'm officially in love.

Ms. Sexy knows how to handle a chicken wing with one hand. She put that wing in her mouth, moved her tongue around, and nothing but bones came out.

Thomas's jaw is hanging. "Son …"

"I know."

We're sittin' in the grass, chillin'. We won the game, like 87-75, but no one really cared. We were too busy having a good time once the game was over. Good music, good food, lots of beautiful ladies, we were jammin'. The kids are playing now and Midi's not a bad little hustler with the ball. I've never really seen my son play, but he's tryna mimic my moves and he's not doing too bad. Not bad at all, considering everyone's at least twice his size.

Thomas is going clubbin' with the Miami men later, Dero is taking the boys back to Tio Miguel's, and I'm gonna hang in Thomas's apartment with Ms. Sexy and get to know her. This is really the second time we've seen each other. I think we both agree that we like what we see, but this is new. I'm movin slow. I got my boys to think of and I'm movin. At best, this might become a long-distance thing so I gotta be careful. Midi's the one I worry about most. His heart'll be hurt when he sees me start dating someone else and I don't want him to hate Daddy or Daddy's lady.

Do they write books on this? On how to make this easy?

"So what brought you down here?"

She wipes her mouth before answering. "Two reasons. One, my single girlfriends and I get together at Christmas and go on a trip. It's about the only time we're all guaranteed to be off, so we usually take a cruise. This time, my cousin Nishi needed help moving, so we agreed to be manual labor in exchange for free room and board."

"That's working out?"

She laughs. "Hmm … let's see. Nishi lives next to a guy we'd all agreed to flirt with because he was so insanely sexy." I raise a brow. "Then his cousin shows up next door and, lo and behold, it's the guy I told a few of my girlfriends about. They all agree that the two of you in combination are lethal to willpower and resolve. So now those chicks wanna flirt with both of you. I had to issue death threats to keep them off you. You're welcome, by the way." I fall back in the grass laughing. "Then we overhear your son come up with a radical, and quite interesting, advertising campaign"—Med! Son, you are killing Daddy—"and now everyone wants to see your pee-pee and they're willing to stab me to get close!" I got tears running down my cheeks at that. "Then my Brooklyn hustler texts me to come watch him ball and shows out on the court looking like an NBA player!"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Next, your cousin, Thomas's brother, shows up and now Nishi's fielding questions about why she'd want to move away from such gorgeous eye candy in the first place. Some of her more unscrupulous friends were trying to figure out how to put tracking devices on all of you until Nishi and I told them that you and Thomas work for a security company and you'd figure out you were being tracked."

"Quickly," I add, laughing.

"I thought so. And, to put the cherry on the ice cream, the two of you work at a place with lots of single men. Said single men immediately start flirting with the women I came with, so now every woman's headed back to Nishi's to put on her skankiest clothes because we gotta advertise." She wipes the tears from her face. "Yeah, everyone agreed this was a good deal and my job now is to find out if you're really moving here and if you'll be here next year. If you're still single, they'll consider you fair game."

We look at each other and start laughing. "Med and I are having a talk tonight about his scheme." I shake my head and lean back on my arms. "So that's reason one. What's reason two?"

She plucks a blade of grass and starts shredding it. "Nishi is starting a business. She asked me to join her."

I'm trying not to get excited. "What kinda business?"

"Interpreter services."

"In Miami?" Damn near everyone speaks Spanish here.

"Yes. I see the look on your face. Everyone speaks Spanish but how many people speak Spanish well? How many people understand Cuban slang versus Puerto Rican slang? Do you know how hard it is to find an interpreter to translate technical or medical terms? Let's not get into Haitian Creole or Brazilian Portuguese. That's not traditional French or Portuguese, but it's not unusual to see people try to negotiate with a Haitian in French, thinking that's enough, and not realize they speak Creole."

Hmm… sounds like Nishi might be on something.

"So she wants to provide interpreters and translators to businessmen trying to do business in Miami. So many of them come down here and really can't speak any of the common languages and get outmaneuvered in negotiations because people will mutter something in Spanish and no one knows what's going on."

I chuckle. "Yo, I understand. RangeMan Miami? You have to speak Spanish. It's a requirement, but the Spanish in that office? What's the story in the Bible about everyone speaking different languages?"

"Tower of Babel?"

"Yeah. Straight up. We got Spanish speakers from every country in that office, so slang?" I shake my head. "Gotta be careful." She laughs. "Then, on the court a minute ago, two guys on the other team are Haitian. They started calling in Creole and Thomas and I didn't know what they hell they said." I smirk. "We figured it out though. That was an order to guard us!"

"Again, conceited," she says, smiling.

"Hey, our guard tightened up the moment Braulio yelled whatever to Paul V." I'm kicked back, happy as hell. Ms. Sexy might be moving to Miami! Everything in my life is lining up! "So … you giving notice to Caro?"

She sighs. "I don't know yet. I love working with Caro and I love what I do. I … I have my reasons to stay in New York."

Aigh. But if I can talk you into moving, Ms. Sexy, I will.

"So what would you normally do at Christmas? If you weren't with your girlfriends?"

"Join the family in Maine."

"Maine?"

"Yeah. I'm from Portland. Maine makes NYC snow look like a suggestion."

I wince. "That's cool." We're quiet, staring out at the bay. "So," I turn to her, "no talking about work or my boys. Tell me about you. How's Baxter? That's the cat, right?"

She leans across me for the other strawberry soda I grabbed when we made our plates and pops the top. "Yeah. He's probably shredding my curtains wondering where Mommy is. He hates staying with my sister. He hisses at her constantly."

I chuckle. "Then why leave him there?"

"No other options other than a pet sitting service. Nah. Vanessa will survive. She's jealous I'm here."

She hands me wet wipe and we clean up. She keeps pointing by my mouth before finally removing the barbecue sauce herself. I take the plates and cups and trash 'em and we kick back in the sand and relax. The boys are on the basketball court with the kids playing a pick-up game, Thomas and Dero are making the other half of Andrea's friends drool, and Ms. Sexy is smiling at me.

Life is perfect.

Andrea draws a square in the sand and starts piling up sand. I look at her square and start building walls. By the time the sun gets low, we have a decently impressive castle built. The boys come over to say goodbye (Midi's watching Andrea carefully) and Dero tosses me Thomas's car keys and winks at her.

"Remember, don't drive fast."

"Bye."

"And don't bust those speakers."

"Bye."

"Play nice with Ms. Sexy." She blushes. I toss a shell at him as he jogs away laughing.

"Vanessa like that?" I ask.

"Worse."

"I still win. My sons have voices that carry."

She flops back in the sand and laughs. "And they like to repeat everything they hear!"

"That's Midi. Med is the schemer. I'm keeping my eyes on him."

She sits up, wiping her eyes. "Yeah, but after we stopped laughing, we thought about what he said. Single ladies walk around naked to advertise we're single? I mean, your son is eight and that's his perspective on feminine behavior. That a single woman has to walk around naked to get a man's attention."

"I damn sure didn't teach that." I'm sure he learned that from his mother.

"Good to know. Now, that group I hang with? They like a good argument. Ahmed had us debating half of the morning."

"Glad my son could provide you with some entertainment."

"He really did." We stop work on the castle just as the sun drops below the bay.

"Pose." She sits next to it and I snap a few pics of her then we manage a selfie.

"Thanks. You want to destroy it?"

I'm staring at it. "Nah. Let nature do it. Let's admire it while we can."

"Good attitude to take." She stands and takes my arm. "Ice cream?"

We pack everything into Thomas's car, I look up an ice cream place and get directions, then pull off carefully. She's looking around. "Your cousin's car?"

"His pride and joy." I've got the top down, we're cruising, this is nice and easy.

"I believe it. This is a beauty." She running a hand over the wood grain and I can't stop looking at her. The sun gave her a sweet tan and her ponytail is doing its thing. "What do you drive?"

"Nothing yet. I'm thinking I'll get an SUV, for the boys, if I move here."

"How likely is your move here?"

I pull in the parking lot of the ice cream place and park. "Pretty likely … nah, it's certain."

"I thought so," she says quietly. Loud exhale. "I don't do long distance."

"Didn't work out before?"

"Never tried it." She raises a brow. "Have you ever heard of it working out?"

I think for a moment. "I have a co-worker who's doing it now. Lives in Boston, his girl is in Atlanta. He's about to move to Miami too." I shrug. "RangeMan has a lot of military members too. My new boss? Thomas tells me that his wife held him down while he served in the Marines. Well, she was his girlfriend then. They got married the moment he got out the service. So yeah, I know men it's worked out for. You care about somebody enough, you'll make it work." I smile and kiss her hand.

"Oh." She's got that look again.

"What's the likelihood of you moving here?"

"Fifty-fifty."

"Then let's not rush anything. We're getting to know each other, right?"

She smiles, looking relieved. "Right."

—oOo—

"Your cousin owns a lot of bachata."

It's 2200 and we're back in Thomas's apartment, kicked back listening to music. Tryna keep everything light and easy with Ms. Sexy. I've always gotta a vibe from her that she's cautious, so I'm movin' slow.

"He likes to dance." I stand and hold out a hand. "Can you dance a bachata?"

"No. Never tried."

"I'll walk you through it." She stands and I start trying to teach her when I hear a key in the lock. I freeze. The chain holds, there's a curse, then "Mack! Yo! Emergency!"

Dero. I check the peephole. Midi's in his arms sobbing. I unlock the front door and Dero walks in.

"Sorry, son, but I don't know what to do for this."

His voice lets me know what's up so I take Midi from him gently and rock him, carrying him back over to the couch. "Midi? Where does it hurt, son?"

"My leg, Daddy," he replies, sniffling, burying his face in my chest. "My leg hurts so much."

I turn to Dero. "Hot bath. See if there's a thermometer in the bathroom."

"Hello, Midi," Andrea says, crouching down. "You feel hot and cold at the same time?" He nods. "Your leg hurts?" He nods again. "You feel thirsty?" That gets a big nod. "OK, how about I get you a big glass of water?"

"Thank you."

I don't miss the stink-eye Midi gives her as she walks off. "I caught that. What's Daddy's rule when someone tries to help?" I whisper.

"Don't insult them," he mutters.

"Right. You know your manners."

Andrea returns with a glass of ice water and Midi gives her a small smile. "Thank you, Miss Andrea."

"You're welcome. Do you feel really bad?" He nods. She places her hand on his forehead, then his cheek. "Low grade fever," she says softly. "I know how you feel. I'm going to hold this until we take your temperature." Dero comes back with the thermometer and we check. 101, low grade.

"Aigh. Dero, BioFreeze and children's Tylenol. Midi, drink the water—"

"Midi, does your mommy put you on a heating pad?" Andrea asks. He nods, looking at her in confusion. I catch Dero's eye and he nods and leaves the apartment. I get Midi in the tub and text Thomas that Midi's here with me. Sickle cell crisis, mild one hopefully.

I keep Midi in the tub until he's nearly asleep, then dress him and stick him in bed, convincing him to take the Tylenol Dero returns with before he completely passes out. Andrea put clean sheets on the bed and smoothed the heating pad underneath. Midi curls up on it. Dero looks impressed.

Again, I'm in awe of her. "Yo … how did you know?"

She gives me a tired smile. "You told me. Besides, I know that look on his face. I suffer." My smile drops. "What's his trigger?"

"We're still trying to figure it out. I think he got overheated."

She nods. "That's mine. Overheating, moving from hot to cold environments too fast, and not staying hydrated." Sounds like everything that happened today. "I wish I could say it'll get better as he gets older, but it hasn't for me. I have one or two a year. I know the drill and I realized that's what I must have looked like at his age. That look of pain hurt me."

"Thanks," I reply softly.

She kisses my cheek and smiles. "Daddy is a great Daddy. I'll go. I know you'll spend all night watching him." She wiggles her fingers and leaves. Dero escorts her out and returns, standing in the doorway.

"Yo, if you're stupid enough to let her get away, I got that."

I smooth Midi's hair back from his face. "Nah, son," I reply softly. "Definitely not stupid."

I just don't know how it's gonna work.

—oOo—

We watch Midi carefully for the next few days and Med reminds him to drink his water every hour. I start reconsidering Miami. Maybe Charlotte would be a better option. I can't have Midi getting sick just from having fun, but this is the happiest Midi's looked in months. Lots of cousins, Tia Felicia trying her best to make him fat, and the beach. Midi and Med have never looked happier.

We've been here a week and I've been dancing around asking the boys what they think, so I decide to take the medicine and ask.

"Yo, so … what would you boys think about living here?"

Midi is silent. Med grins. "Awright! I love it here, Daddy! Are we gonna live with Tio Thomas?" I nod. He and Thomas high five. "When are we moving here? Soon? Please say soon, Daddy!"

I hold up a hand. "Midi? What do you think?"

Midi leaves Dero's lap and walks across the room. He stares out of the window, his little lip going. "Mommy's not coming home, is she?"

It's the first time I've heard defeat in his voice and I swallow hard. "Mommy talked to the judge. She's gonna be punished, Midi, because she did something bad, but she's talking to the judge now to see if she can make her punishment as short as possible."

"That never works when Med and I try it," he counters.

"The rules are different for adults." I slide down on the floor. Thomas, Dero, and Med are quiet, watching Midi. "When you're an adult, you can have a lawyer negotiate with the judge to make your punishment shorter. When Daddy was locked up, he had a lawyer negotiate for him."

"Does Mommy have a lawyer?" he asks, finally facing me.

"Yes, Mommy has a good lawyer and he's fighting hard for Mommy."

"How do you know he's a good lawyer, Daddy? Is he the best lawyer for Mommy? Does he care that Mommy has me and Med? Does—"

"Daddy is paying for Mommy's lawyer, Midi. I made sure to hire a good lawyer and they're talking to the judge now."

"You got Mommy a lawyer?" I nod. "And he's working with Mommy to talk to the judge?" I nod again.

My son runs at me and hugs me tight, sobbing his little heart out. "I knew you'd fix it! I knew you would!"

Thomas, Dero and I look at each other as Midi sobs. Med looks thoughtful.

"You're paying for Mommy's lawyer?" Med asks, frowning.

"Yes. Why?"

He shrugs. "You and Mommy told us she had a lawyer. You didn't tell us you got her the lawyer."

"Does that make a difference?" Thomas asks him.

Med is quiet, looking at his fingers. "Yeah. I mean … You always fight to make things better, Daddy. I didn't know you were fighting to save Mommy."

"Did you think I wouldn't?"

Med's jaw clenches. "No, but …" He looks up. "Most divorced mommies and daddies hate each other. You and Mommy don't fight about me and Midi, well, not a lot, but you guys fight. I didn't think you'd save Mommy too."

I hold my arm out and Med comes over, the first tears silently dripping down his face, and I turn Midi until he can see me. "All Daddies and Mommies disagree, but me and Mommy both love you. Mommy gave me the two of you so I was gonna fight for her. I don't hate your mommy."

Midi nods, hiccuping, and buries his face in my chest again. Med closes his eyes and leans against me.

I look over at Dero, who nods silently, but I stare at Thomas until he drops his eyes.

"It was never about Yala, son," I state softly. "You wanna be Daddy? Welcome to Daddy's world."

—oOo—

Thomas and I review the houses we looked at last week and finally decide to move on a townhouse. It's in a good neighborhood with good schools and has lots of amenities in the neighborhood. I call Mando and Mari again and Mari tells me to sign the boys up for the YMCA. They'll pick the boys up from school and take 'em back to the Y for me. They'll help with homework and they have afterschool programs, including swimming. The boys will have full days to keep 'em busy.

Mando, Thomas and I get on the phone with Mark (the asshole) and talk about how we plan to run Miami. The email about Mark being in charge was a shock and I'm still not sure how I plan to handle that.

Thomas wants to move his ass. Carefully. Maybe before he really shows up good. Just knock him out the moment he gets out his car and …

"Don't." Thomas and I stare at the phone. Mando was ice cold. "I've already spoken to him. He knows the XOs are gonna be watching his ass but I've known Mark for years. I've known Mark since before RangeMan. He's sincere in trying to prove to people he's no asshole and all I'm gonna say is let him prove it."

Thomas and I stare at each other. Mark dissed the Boss Lady for months. Nah, son. He's gonna have to prove he's not an asshole for us to trust him.

"Look, the LC had their reasons. Mark had the most profitable branch for five years—"

"Yo, NYC has the crown now."

"NYC has the crown for the month of December, but when you calculate overall figures, Boston won for the year. I'm sure, when Ryan releases the official numbers, that's how it will shake out. They held the crown for seven months of the year, Mack. Mark's leadership of his branch can't be disputed."

I sit back in my chair pissed. I don't doubt Mando, but damn! This fucker falls in shit and still comes up smelling good!

"Who's coming in second, just out of curiosity?" Thomas asks.

"Probably Atlanta. They were solid most of the year. Third will go to us. Fourth will be a tossup between NYC and Trenton, probably NYC."

"Damn!" Thomas is grinning. I'm pissed, but at least we're not last.

"Yeah. Every XO knows that explaining how the end of the year figures work out is gonna be a challenge, you know, making sure every man understands that Boston had an seven month lead. The real fight starts next year, when every branch has an equal chance of getting the crown for the year."

OK. Me and Diggy gotta review stats. Time to take the crown here.

"Now, other thing you need to know. I was asked if I was ready to move back to Miami. I'm not. Not really. I want to leave Charlotte in the right place and I need to be able to handle my fam before I move back."

"Yo, I understand," Thomas says. "Whatever we gotta do to handle Miami, we'll handle it."

"Thanks. FYI? Same thing Mark said, so what I need from you two is to work with him to run Miami. He's gonna have enough on his plate running the company. Help him. He knows enough about Miami to know what needs to happen and he knows how to run a branch, so I don't expect a lot of problems. I'm still officially the XO so keep me in the loop. Mack, you really need to spend your first month getting to know your department heads and our pipeline. I told Diego to get on that while you're there. I've asked Mark to keep him in Miami until you're clear on what needs to happen there."

—oOo—

Diggy's office is half packed, boxes stacked in a corner, when I walk in. The walls are bare and he's staring at the ceiling.

"Yo."

"Yo. Congrats." His mouth twists in a half smile and I smile back.

"I know, son. Congrats and damn. Same time."

He laughs and we sit at his table. "Wanna review the hustle first?"

"Let's do it."

Thomas walks in the room as Diego and I are trying to get straight on Miami's hustle. Now that I get to see everything, I see what I'm walking into. Only reason Miami's not number one is we got more men than anyone besides NYC, we got more overhead than anyone (because admin like accounting counts against us), and our turnaround time sucks. We need more contracts to offset the men and we need some real hustlers in this branch. Otherwise? This branch's got good contracts and a strong pipeline.

Time to get to know the men. Diego gives me a list of who he thinks his strongest hustlers are, but rebuilding brotherhood in this branch was his number one. New challenge, but one I'm up to. NYC had that. I know how to help there.

"Yo!" Thomas pops his head in.

"Sup?" Diggy and I both kick back.

"We have a visitor."

Les steps in and we stand. He waves his hands. "Nope. Sit. Status."

We bring him up to date and he tosses a pen in the air, not saying much.

"Mack? What's issue number one that you see?"

I look over all my notes. "Brotherhood."

"Interesting answer. Why?"

"Yo, NYC came back because we made everything into a contest. We cared about each other's opinions. We wanted everyone to succeed. I don't see that happening here. It's this department versus that department."

He nods thoughtfully. "So, what do you suggest?"

I shrug. "Not sure yet. Still thinking."

"OK." He catches his pen and faces forward. "Write this down. Priorities. One, rebuild pipeline. Two, repair rep in community. Three, come up with three new product streams." He points to Thomas and Diggy then the door. They leave.

"Your personal job? The one I'm entrusting to you and you alone?" I nod. "I want a detailed report on Mark each week. What he does, how the men respond to him, your personal opinion of his attitude."

I raise a hand. "Yo, son. Bad move. I don't like the fucker."

"I know you don't. That's why I'm trusting you with this assignment. First, I want you to be fair and objective in what you report. Second, I want to know if he's losing the asshole tendencies." He kicks back in the chair, balancing on the back legs. "I'm taking some time off and I won't be here to watch him. I know you liked Steph, you and Thomas both, and I'm sure Mark's move to CEO surprised you both." I nod, brow raised. "Yeah, well, there's a bigger issue at play here, as usual. Your dislike of Mark? He earned it. If he can earn your respect, then I'll start looking at him for something else I have in mind."

"Aigh." Mark's gonna have to hustle for me to respect him. How you diss the Boss Lady for months, going through her shit when she invites you to beach to chill with her? Got your whole branch hating on her for nothing at all and she ends up liking you? I mean, since she ended up liking him I gotta try to be fair, but I wanna see what she saw.

"Brotherhood you leave to me."

—oOo—

I finally figured out how I'm going to manage this move. I'm not hauling the boys back to Brooklyn only to miss school moving back down here with me. I'll leave the boys with Tio Miguel and Tia Felicia so they can have fun with the fam. I'll fly back, pack up the apartment and sublet it to Jorge until my lease is up. Then I'll ask the landlord to allow Jorge to move in officially. I've done Jackie enough favors (i.e., found her crackhead son eight times, twice getting him right before the police did) that she should be willing to slide Jorge in without any issues. Rent-stabilized apartment for him and baby girl? Done. My gift to my bro.

Once I get back, I should be able to register the boys officially in school. Got a lease, got my custody papers, need to get their NYC records and shot info and they'll be in school.

One last situation to handle. Well, not a situation. A pleasure.

I knock on Nishi's door and she opens it. "Hey Brooklyn baller."

I smile. "Andrea?"

"Dree!" She waves me in and Andrea comes out wrapping something in bubble wrap.

"Mack." She puts the item down and walks over to me. "What's up?"

"Need a minute with you." I take her hand and she guides me into the now empty bedroom. "Look, I signed a lease on a townhouse down here. I'm going back to NYC to pack and move, but I still want to see you. If you move here, I want to see a lot of you. Yo, if you stay in NYC with Caro? I still wanna see you. So, you busy tonight?"

She smiles, but I see a tear or two drop down her face. Damn! Too strong?

"No, I'm free tonight."

"Good. You don't have to advertise. You got my attention." She giggles. "But yo, I meant the rest of it."

She groans. "Mack, I think you're wonderful and handsome and … god, the best man I've dated in a long time but Mack, you're moving to Miami! That's too far for us to last long and even if I wanted this to last, your sons come first. They'll always come first." She smiles. "And I'm sorry, but you're not over your ex-wife. You still love her."

I clench my jaw, furious she really wants it to end this way. "So what're you saying? You don't want to see me after tonight?"

"No! I'm saying I want to see you tonight, but long distance relationships? Military is one thing. It … it just doesn't work out. I've never see one work out."

"You've never given one a try."

"True." She exhales loudly. "Besides, I don't want to be the woman you use to get over your ex-wife. You still love her. That's clear—"

"My ex-wife knew the boys on the block were after me." She gasps. "Any love I had for her is gone. What I feel for you?" I chuckle mirthlessly. "I don't let people, especially women, get close to me. Not when there's a chance they'll have to meet the boys. No revolving doors in and out of their lives. I introduced my boys to you. I'm serious."

I stand and straighten my shoulders. She's still looking at me in shock. "If you think I won't call, I'll call. If you think I won't make an effort, you're wrong. But don't dump me saying you don't do long distance when you've never given it a try. I'm not your ex, whoever the fuck he was. I'm not any other man. I'm McKinley Ramon Odom and I deserve a chance. If you don't think I'm worth a chance, then fine. This is over."

—oOo—

Andrea's POV

Mack leaves. I exit the bedroom, wiping my face, when I hear the front door close.

Bad move. Nishi is staring at me.

"You're an idiot."

I sigh, not really willing to have this fight with her. "Natasha—"

"That's strike two," she says coldly. "Strike one? That man is gorgeous, caring, and on his way up. Most importantly, he has as much baggage in his life as you do. He has trust issues like you do. He's trying to move on from his ex-wife, just like you're trying to move on from Greg." She walks over and pops me on the side of my head. "And instead of giving the most handsome, sexy man to come your way a chance, you cut him off!"

"That's not it, Nishi!" She turns around. I'm leaning against her bar, biting my lip to keep from crying. "Mack's the first man I dated since Greg and yes, he's sexy and smart, but that doesn't mean I should throw myself at him just because he gave me a second look! Didn't you say there were more fish in the sea? So why throw me at the first man to pay attention to me since I broke my engagement?"

"Because you managed to reel in a winner!"

"How do you know?"

She stalks over. "Because he wasn't the one to come to you and say, 'I don't think this long-distance thing is gonna work out.' He came over here and said, 'I want to continue to see you and I want you to know that I'm moving.' He came over to tell you he signed a lease. He made it clear he likes you and wants to spend time with you no matter where you are and that man doesn't have a lot of free time!

Last week, before he showed, you were moaning because you were thinking of handing in your notice to Caro and joining me in my business. And what were you complaining about? 'Nishi, I met the most gorgeous man in the world and he's in Brooklyn! Why is it the moment I meet a handsome sexy man, something always happens! Nishi, I have the world's worst luck!'" She shakes her head. "So now that he's moving here you want to throw up roadblocks?"

"Look, Mack's great but … he's too perfect. Handsome, smart, funny, cute well-behaved kids? Come on!" I shake my head. "No. Last time I fell for Mr. Perfect, he was a perfect asshole. Why is Mack still single? No girlfriend? No women on the side? His co-workers let it slip that women threw themselves at him in Brooklyn, so it wasn't like he didn't have opportunities—"

"Dree?"

"Yeah?"

"Ask him these questions."

I roll my eyes. "I'll sound like an idiot! So Mack, tell me, why haven't you dated since …"

My boys watch everything I do. They've never watched Daddy parade women through his apartment. I keep my life simple 'cuz I want the boys to see a good example. Work hard, hustle, do what's right.

"Dree?" I repeat my mental musing to Nishi and she smiles triumphantly. "So, he was trying to show his boys a good example. Not fooling around with a bunch of women. Working hard. Trying to be an example to them. Again, sounds like a one-woman man. So if you don't want him, you won't mind if I date him, right?"

Something in my heart thuds painfully. Hell yes, I'll mind! You stay away from him!

She smiles. "You look ready to cut me. Do you really believe what you just said?"

"Yes."

"Then get Baxter some siblings, because with that attitude, you'll never get married."

Nishi leaves it alone for almost an hour while we pack the last breakable items in her apartment. She finally drops back down on the floor in front of me and sighs.

"Tell me this: Is there any reason, any reason at all, that you don't want to date this man?"

No. No, there's not. I swallow hard.

"Honey, he's not Greg. Greg was handsome and sexy and he knew it and he used you. You were one of god only knows how many and he played you. I understand—"

"Do you really?" I choke back a sob. "Do you really know what it's like to be taken for a fool? To date a man, introduce him to your family and all your friends, to start planning a wedding and thinking about a life with him, only to find out he's got another girlfriend doing the same thing? Do you realize how embarrassing that was? And then, to complete the humiliation, he actually married the other chick! I looked like an idiot!"

I sob and Nishi pulls me close and lets me cry on her shoulder. I loved Greg and he nearly destroyed me. "Mack is too good to be true, Nishi," I whisper. "Sorry, but no man that handsome and perfect is single by choice. It just doesn't happen."

"One, he's not perfect. You just haven't found the flaws yet." She hands me a tissue to wipe my face. "Two, he's not Greg and he called you on that. You're judging him based on your experience with another man. You want him to judge you by his ex-wife? Because any woman who knows that there's a hit out on the father of her children and says nothing is a stone-cold bitch."

I shudder. I couldn't believe it when he said that. No woman could be that cruel. Right?

"If you want to know why he hasn't dated, ask him, but I think he's given you plenty of good reasons. He's let his guard down and he's asking to see you. You're the woman he's running after. Think about that, huh, and while you're thinking about it, feel sorry for Greg's new wife."

"Why?"

She snorts. "Look at the asshole she married. A man who made it clear he was willing to juggle two women right up to the wedding. I have high hopes for his fidelity, don't you?" Good point. That gives me a reason to smile. "I live next to Thomas and you know why I won't date him?"

"No. Why?" I have wondered.

"Because Thomas Williams is another Greg. He knows he's handsome. He knows he's successful and I'd bet he's got more going on than he shows. That man's gonna fuck everything moving that he can until his dick falls off." We both laugh. "I went out with Thomas once. It was a great date. It was a great night in bed. I haven't touched him since."

My jaw drops. "Nishi! How could you do that?"

"Easy. I knew the score and so did he. I know that if I get desperate enough for an orgasm, he will provide. Just don't look at him to be Mr. Forever and he makes that clear at the beginning. Mack?" She snorts. "That man walked into a room of scantily clad women and barely batted an eye, but the moment you walked out his eyes locked on you. He only had eyes for you and if you and he had kissed any longer, we woulda seen all his pee-pee!"

Nishi is great for pumping me back up. She's not lying. His face said he wanted to lay me down somewhere and it's hell not wanting to follow along when Mack gets that look on his face. I wonder if he's as intense in bed as he is on the court.

"So is there a possibility, a slight one, that you could move here?"

"Are you sure about this business?"

"I'm sure. I'm tired of grinding it out for someone else. Interpreter services are needed and you have the background they'd fall over themselves for. Diplomatic background, worked in protocol for the City of New York, and an etiquette specialist. I'm ready to start getting contracts and hiring but I need someone like you in front to liaise. I need your background to promote the rest of the women who are ready to work with me. Please? Come help me."

I drum my fingers on the floor, thinking about it. "I'm not moving here for him."

"Of course not! I offered you this job before you knew he was even moving here."

"Right. I'm going to be busy. We both will, trying to build a business."

"Exactly. Besides, he'll be busy trying to learn a new city, a new office, get his boys settled, move …"

I smile. Nishi smiles.

"Maybe my luck is changing?"

"Weren't you the one who said 'Sometimes not getting what you want is a brilliant stroke of luck?'"

—oOo—

Nishi keeps quiet when everyone returns and we all sit around her apartment for the last time, cleaning, talking, and trying to catch up. I've known some of these women since high school and we're all tight.

So when my phone beeps, everyone gets quiet and I see a few smiles.

My heart is thumping as I unlock the phone and hit the messages icon.

Dinner?

Mack …

Dinner, dancing, maybe making love all night. Ditch your girls n come w me.

I smile at the message. Persistent.

You call it but we're having dinner. A date.

Oh we are?

We are. 8 pm. If you're naked, I'll take you as you are.

I stand and smile. "Well, looks like I have a date tonight."

Nishi cheers. "Thank god! The man isn't as stupid as you are!"

"Thanks, cuz."

—oOo—

Mack's POV

"You came on too strong."

I glance back at Dero. "You think so?"

"Yeah. You keep saying you wanna keep it light, then you do something that's not light. Something that stakes a claim. You ask me, she panicked, so be clear. You wanna be friends with this woman or you wanna date her? If you wanna date her, tell her and then throw your game."

I'm getting dressed. Thomas made reservations at a salsa club and now they're watching me get dressed. So are the boys. I told the boys I was gonna take Andrea out for dinner and Med cheered. Midi's got his pout going.

"There's more to it than that, Dero," I reply quietly. "The boys, my move—"

He makes a noise and shakes his head. "Nah, son. Excuses. The boys? Yeah, that's important but not the issue here. This is about what you want when you're lying in your lonely bed at night. You want a novia next to you? Maybe a wife? Or you want a friend?"

"I call for Dero," Thomas says. "The boys will adjust and I told you, years ago, they need to see this. They need to see their Daddy court a lady. All they've seen so far is whatever your wife does."

Which is why this all feels familiar. Now they're living with Daddy and Daddy's headed out?

"Right. So if you want to show the boys what's right, start dating this woman if that's how you feel about her. Make it clear to her what's up and see if that's what she wants. Then, start making it clear to Med and Midi that this is how to treat a lady. This is how you find a good wife. Don't not date because you're afraid of what your sons might say."

I nod and start looking through my options. Man, I gotta go shopping again. Thomas already said to get rid of all the heavy winter stuff. I'll never need it here. I'm looking at my suit wondering if that's too heavy for tonight.

"Here." I turn and Thomas tosses me a pair of white linen pants. "This is more appropriate. Ditch the tie, take the jacket, and wear those boat shoes."

I take a look. Not bad. I check my watch. 1945. I turn to the boys. "OK, tio Dero and tio Thomas as staying with you. Behave."

"Daddy, are you gonna marry Ms. Sexy?" Med asks.

My mouth twitches. "First, her name is Ms. Andrea. Second, I intend to date Ms. Andrea if she's interested in dating Daddy. Whether or not we get married is something you talk about after you've been dating for a while."

"How long?" Midi asks. I can see his thought. I'll break it up before they make it that long.

"Don't know, Midi. We'll know when it's been long enough because we'll both feel it."

He's back to pouting.

I kiss 'em both and head to the door, grabbing the flowers I bought along the way. 1950. I haven't been on a real date, one where I knew it wasn't gonna end with sex, in years. When you know the night's gonna end with you havin' some fun, you have a whole different mindset.

This time, I'm tryna get to know her. Learn more about her. Take it slow and get her to trust me.

I open the door, check for my wallet and keys, and take a look back in the apartment. Dero's asking the boys if they want a bedtime story and they're making room for him in their bed. Thomas heads back over to his laptop, checking email from the office, no doubt. Outside, Miami's just starting to come alive. The lights are on, the traffic is getting thick, and it's cooling down. Prime party time.

And I have a date with Ms. Sexy.

Andrea.

I have a date with Andrea.